GFP, in GFP bunny, is an acronym for “Green fluorescent protein”. In 2000, Eduardo Kac, a contemporary artist in Portugal, was the first to transform Alba from an albino rabbit to the first green fluorescent rabbit.
Alba was the symbolistic representation of transgenic artwork, meaning that it was a biological art form created by genetic modification. In transgenic art, genetic technologies are utilized to “transfer synthetic genes from one species to another”. In this case, to convert Alba into a GFP bunny, Kac interweaved the genes of a Pacific jellyfish (aka. Aequorea victoria) and a female rabbit embryo.
As Alba became the first new mammal in history to allow global recognition of Biological art, the GFP bunny grasped the major prevalent culture franchises: for example, Sherlock, Bigbang theory, and Simpsons. “The domain of art is symbolic even when intervening directly in a given
context, art can contribute to reveal the cultural implications of the revolution underway and offer different ways of thinking about and with biotechnology.", Eduardo Kac mentioned.
Along with gaining international fame, Eduardo Kac also contributed to global diversity, rendering new life forms through transgenesis. Once more, he was the artist who proved that transgenic art may contribute to the revelation of the cultural implications while offering different ways of thinking about and with biotechnology."
Nonetheless, GFP incited controversies as well. Voices were also raised regarding animal rights and the exploitation of animals for the aesthetic domain. Especially, BOSTON GLOBE asserted that genetic modification during the process of splice violated animal rights since humans ended up exploiting animals as human property, regardless of its sake. In addition, some believed that the ‘GFP bunny project’ took advantage of an animal’s life for the purpose of aesthetics, which is considered to be immortal.
Work Cited
GFP Bunny, https://www.ekac.org/gfpbunny.html.
Artnexus, https://www.artnexus.com/en/magazines/article-magazine-artnexus/5d633ac790cc21cf7c0a1932/69/eduardo-kac.
“Transgenic Bunny by Eduardo Kac.” GNN - Genome News Network, http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/03_02/bunny_art.shtml.
“Ethics - Animal Ethics: Biotechnology.” BBC, BBC, https://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/animals/using/biotechnology_1.shtml#:~:text=Genetic%20engineering%20and%20selective%20breeding,being%20of%20value%20in%20themselves.
Erasmus, Megan. “Transgenic Art and Science in Eduardo Kac's Work: Ethical Issues Acknowledged.” UnisaIR Home, 1 Feb. 2015, https://uir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/19025.
Eduardo Kac's GFP Bunny Incites Debate about Ethics of Transgenic Art, https://www.ekac.org/artswire.html.
Comments